It has been a myth that traveling during pregnancy can be hazardous to health. However, the perceptions keep on changing with time. Now a day, people find no harm in traveling under any circumstances. Therefore, many women need to be educated about the places to travel and precautions to be taken during pregnancy. There are no hard and fast rules as to which destinations to explore, but certain norms regarding medicines, vaccination, and insurance need to be strictly followed. There is a set of some special rules regarding air travel for pregnant women. In addition to this, certain activities such as water sports, horse riding, hiking and diving should be sternly prohibited as these activities endanger the safety of the fetus.
Insurance details
Pregnancy cannot be treated as an illness, but it’s inevitable to frequent the doctor under such situations. If this frequenting takes place within the span of two months before departure, it’s quite possible that one will be excluded from the travel insurance policy. The requirements of insurance companies keep on varying, so it’s better to confirm with the travel agent whether a written ‘Pre-travel Health Statement’ is necessary before departure. This would be usually made available by GP. Maternity care and medical assistance are, in general, not applicable for insurance once the woman enters the ninth month of pregnancy.
Air Travel
Traveling is allowed by some of the airlines to the women including or up to the 36th week, but straightforwardness of pregnancy is the prerequisite for it. As per the IATA guidelines, pregnant women, up to 38th week, are allowed flying, provided the flying time is four hours or less than that. But, not all the airlines relax these criteria, so, it should be made sure as to which airline has to be booked. Airlines generally decline the flying of women who have had a premature delivery before or had the veins of their legs clotted. These factors hold true during the return journey as well. If the woman has traveled out during the 7th month, she may not be allowed to fly in the 8th or 9th month while returning from the journey.
On the plane
Plenty of water should be drunk, mainly on lengthy flights, as the humidity of air in passenger aircraft cabins is kept at 8 percent only. Pregnant women should avert sitting for long as it strengthens the possibility of inflammation and clotting of leg veins. Pregnant women should be made to sit on a walkway seat and try to be in motion at regular intervals of15 minss/hr. Exercises pumping the vein should also be carried out. These things hold true for long bus and car journeys as well. Seat belts should be worn, both, in cars and aircraft. It is advisable to wear them at the lower part, above the pelvis.
Medicines and vaccinations
There has not been any confirmed information so far as to which medicines are to be used or which vaccination courses are to be undertaken during pregnancy. The family doctor is the best person to seek a piece of advice regarding this.
Pregnancy risks
Pregnant women are prone to a number of diseases. Hence, it is recommended that they travel only in those countries which have proper hygiene. They should avoid trekking or any such tasks of physical strain. Scuba diving should also be avoided, as it causes deficiency of oxygen.
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